Senate panel seeks details of Balochistan package

Move comes after planning ministry officials fail to deliver a briefing on Rs600b package

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Reforms on Monday sought full details of the Rs600 billion development package for Southern Balochistan in its next meeting after the planning ministry officials failed to deliver a detailed briefing.

A meeting of the Senate standing committee was held under the chairmanship of Senator Agha Shahzeb Durrani. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Planning, Water Resources and others.

During the meeting, the planning ministry officials said that there are development projects worth Rs601 billion under the Southern Balochistan Development Package.

The committee chairman asked “what are the development projects worth Rs600 billion”?

“We know that a development package of Rs600 billion has been given for Southern Balochistan.”

The officials failed to give a briefing on the development projects, to which the chairman of the committee said, "Give us the briefing you have given to Prime Minister Imran Khan."

Senator Usman Khan Kakar said that even the prime minister is incompetent. “He must have been told that Rs600 billion has been allocated under the Southern Balochistan Development Package.”

Six hundred billion rupees will not be given to Southern Balochistan in the next 30 years, he taunted.

The committee chairman said, “When you can’t give a briefing to us, how could you have briefed the PM.”

Senator Mir Kabir said that 32 districts of Balochistan are backward.

The committee in its next meeting sought full details of the Rs600 billion development package for Southern Balochistan.